Welcome to the online tour of Southern Cemetery: Tales & Tombstones. While my solo shows are currently finished for the latter part of 2025 –thank you to the Oconee Library and The Rook & Pawn for their support – I’m delighted that you’re here! Be sure to view my upcoming show at Donderos’ here in Athens, Georgia. All new photos for the month of March (2026).
So, About Me
Hi, hello! I’m Jennifer and I’m a tombstone tourist – also known as a taphophile, a cemetery explorer or grave hunter. Definition: someone who enjoys visiting cemeteries for their art, natural/curated landscape, history and architecture, and/or famous folks.
In a previous life (aka over 10 years ago) I was an ambassador for Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta, which is one of the most beautiful rural garden cemeteries in the South and that time with that organization inspired me to continue to my interests.
In an even more previous life, decades and decades ago, I grew up in a small town in rural Georgia where I roamed the woods and the swamps, shelled peas with my Nana, had family Sunday dinners full of all kind of town gossip and local stories, and visited churches and graveyards to deliver flowers and bittersweet memories. And while I have been lucky enough to live in and travel to a lot of places in the U.S. and the world, I always boomerang back home to the ‘Peach State’ because it’s home. How could it not be?
I’ve been interested in all of the things that are cemetery adjacent for many years before that – regional history, floriography, sculpture/design, green spaces, funerary symbolism, post-mortem photography, spiritualism, ghost stories, etc. There’s so much to dig up when it comes to the history of how humans bury the dead. (Bad pun but this one is in honor of my Dad who never missed a chance to say something silly like that. Miss you Dad.)
Currently, I’m studying gravestone care and I hope to eventually teach about the environmental friendly techniques one can use to clean and restore headstones/gravestones. I was also a guest instructor at the Oconee County Library (Watkinsville, Ga) during the month of October.
I like to balance the honoring of those who have passed while also acknowledging just how intriguing and sometimes odd it *gestures to a local cemetery/graveyard* all is. So whatever your interest is regarding funerary finds, I hope you’ll enjoy my work.
I will detail a bit more about the subject of most of the photos I have in the exhibit – the who, the what, the where – and provide direct links to my blog post or other websites (when available). My website and this blog are best viewed on a laptop just FYI…
At the bottom of the page you’ll find more links that will provide you with some suggested reading materials, general guidelines about exploring cemeteries, a guide to local (Athens, Ga) cemeteries and organizations, a beginners guide to cemetery symbolism and more.
The photos are currently not for sale but if you’d like to support me in some small way then please feel free to shop my booklets, photos and stickers on ETSY, and read about my southern cemetery travel adventures on the blog! Please give me a follow on the Instagram, eh? Or make a donation benefitting the library system, Historic Athens, Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery, Friends of Brooklyn Cemetery, etc since I couldn’t do what I do without them.
And now, on with the show!
TALES & TOMBSTONES
This gravestone looks as if it was crafted from branches as opposed to stone doesn’t it? Most commonly called “tree stump tombstones” they were a part a movement of the mid-19th century that was all about rural garden cemeteries and nature-centric artscapes. These types of stones were popular until the early 1900’s although you can see more modern-styled versions well into the 1950’s and 1960’s.
This lovely gravestone is located in Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta, Ga.
Ponder Family Cemetery in Fairplay, Ga. Unincorporated.
In this tiny cemetery there are 13 marked graves and 6 unmarked graves for those buried within. Almost all of them hidden under a decade of undergrowth gone wild (the smilax is everywhere here!) but the 15 foot tall monuments are still visible even from the road.
It’s rather unusual to have such grandiose markers in such a rural area but the Ponder family were very wealthy and they wanted their graves to be visible from the back door of the ancestral home. A home that still stands in the same spot since 1845.
Sadly, I cannot find mention of the slave cemetery that must exist near the property as the Ponder’s were large plantation owners.
A sad angel plays his lyre at Resthaven Cemetery in Washington, Ga.
Did you know that lichen tends to grow on gravestones and sculptures primarily made from marble and sandstone? Marble and sandstone have a very high calcium carbonate contents and these plants find that deeeeelicious. And they’re both very porous stones which means there is more room for roots to grow.
Moses Harshaw was deemed the meanest man in Georgia and his list of transgressions are a mile long. He was slave owner that tortured and murdered, was charged with numerous cases of assault and battery, and more. The only reason he wasn’t put six feet under or in jail more often is because he was a) rich b) white and c) a lawyer.
His wife was one of the first in line for a divorce when they became legal in Georgia. She had some choice words to say in the decree as well as on his gravestone when he died years before her.
And even though the original wooden grave rotted years ago, it’s always replaced with a board bearing the same sentiment – ‘Died And Gone To Hell.’
Old Clarkesville Cemetery in Clarkesville, Ga.
Let’s talk ZINKIES!
Zinkies are hollow monuments with a distinctive bluish hue and they were popular from the late 19th to early 20th centuries. These markers, produced by companies like the Monumental Bronze Company, were a cheaper and more durable alternative to traditional stone. Even more unique, they featured customizable panels assembled into various designs. They were eventually discontinued during World War I when their facilities were taken over for munitions production.
Some cemeteries outlawed these monuments since the were deemed ‘vulgar’ by many classists. But there are several instances where old money folks used Zinkies so I guess there’s no accounting for taste?
Legend has it that zinkies were used by bootleggers to hide liquor during Prohibition.
Bartow City Cemetery in Bartow, Ga. When and if a cemetery has a zinkie it’s usually only one or so but his cemetery has 5 (!) as well as some white bronze planters.
The grave of the unknown salesman in Monticello, Ga.
In the late 1800’s the locals discovered that a passenger riding on the train had died in his sleep. While he was wearing fine clothes and carried an upscale bag with all the markings of a successful salesman, he had no identification of any kind to say exactly who was or where he was from.
Confident that someone would come looking for him, solve the mystery and pay handsomely for the funeral, the community buried him within the Presbyterian church cemetery with full pomp and circumstance. And that included the installation of an ornate iron fence – something usually only reserved for expansive, and wealthy, family plots.
Alas, no one came. Time passed in days/months/years/decades and his grave still had no headstone.Only the slowly rusting fence that marked his final resting spot remained.
To this day his identity remains a mystery but he’s not without visitors! Lots of curious folks still stop by to say hello, leave a token and take a photo…
‘The Spirit of Achievement’ is a memorial for Jesse Parker Williams and Cora Best Taylor Williams. Both Cora and the memorial itself have VERY interesting stories.
Jesse is best known as being a timber and railroad magnet and after his passing in 1913 his wife Cora inherited most everything in his expansive portfolio. That included the Georgia Florida Alabama Railroad which made Cora the first global female railroad president of such a large holding. Cora lived another 11 years after her husband, and during that time she became not only a successful businesswoman but a notable philanthropist to a number of organizations which are still operating to this day.
The memorial monument was created by American sculptor Daniel Chester French and American Beaux-Arts architect Henry Bacon. If those names seem somewhat familiar to you, it might be because in 1920 they were the artistic team behind the creation of the iconic Lincoln Memorial statue.
Westview Cemetery in Atlanta, Ga.
Nancy the Elephant. Moultrie, Ga.
A life-size baby elephant carving marks the resting place of circus creator and owner William Duggan, Sr. who died before he ever witnessed his circus actually come to fruition.
It’s said that Nancy, the real-life baby elephant he purchased for the show and who this piece is modeled after, followed him everywhere including to the hospital where Duggan Sr. died of unknown causes. Nancy’s whereabouts after Duggan’s death have never been confirmed but her stone version still stands at his gravesite.
Please note that the church on the property appears to be closed and that the cemetery is monitored by close neighbors.
The Richard’s mausoleum at Oakland Cemetery. A combination of Gothic and Romanesque architecture, this structure was built in 1889 from blue marble that eventually tinged reddish orange due to the dusty red Georgia clay upon which it sits.
Mausoleums – above ground structures built to house the deceased. In this case, the mausoleum is the final resting place of two people – Robert Richards and his wife Josephine Richards.
The historic Lott Cemetery in Waycross, Ga.
An angel with a finger touching their face is often a sign of silence, reverence and contemplation.
This white marble sculpture stands at the grave of a young woman and it’s obvious that the lovely figure carved in stone is mourning the loss of one so young…
Just look at the eyes here. There is a tiny half moon of stone pupil over the open space the iris. It really gives it a glimmer of life.
The wreath, when carved on gravestones or monoliths, has a lot of meanings. Eternity. Circle of life and death. Rebirth. And to gift one to the deceased is a symbol of peace and respect.
They’re very common funerary art symbols but I find that each one feels unique. This one was especially pretty to me!
Fairview Cemetery in Madison, Ga. I absolutely recommend this as a destination cemetery.
Cemetery symbolism and funerary art are two of my favorite topics. And during the Victorian Era of garden cemeteries, many a gravestone is festooned with wreaths, angels, urns, flowers and more.
I’ve written a few blog post that can get you started on the journey of symbols if you’re interested! You can find them here.
Grave of Tweet the mockingbird at Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta, Ga.
Tweet died in January of 1874 and the family commissioned a stonecutter to create a bird sculpture for the gravestone. The artist realized they could not chisel a bird so they switched to a lamb!
Tweet’s small stone is one of the most visited graves in all of Oakland.
This gravemarker is called a shell baby or baby on the half shell, and they are almost always associated with the burial of a child.
The shell symbolizes resurrection and rebirth, and the baby is symbolic of the treasure within – the pearl.
Found near Winder, Ga.
Thomasville, Ga.
In an area that quite an impressive collection of historic churches and lovely cemeteries, there’s the Old Cemetery in the Hallmark-esque town of Thomasville.
It’s full of ancient Magnolias as well as a huge grave shelter gazebo that is slowly rotting away.
For a gravestone that is over 120 years old, this piece has held onto its details – those ringlets!
Lake Helen Cassadaga Cemetery in Cassadaga, Florida.
Behold the Devil’s Chair!
According to legend, if you sit in the chair at midnight then the Devil will pop by and say hello. And if you don’t want to chat directly with Satan face-to-face then you can leave him a beer bribe, and it will be opened and emptied when you check back the next day. Devilin’ is thirsty work!
The whole area of Cassadaga, Florida is full of stories like this – the supernatural and unusual. It just happens to be a spiritualist camp that was established in the late 1800’s. Now it’s a tourist/spiritual destination with 52 homes on 55 acres chock full of psychics, mediums and more.
The Palm Reader’s Grave
Maple Hill Cemetery in Huntsville, Al.
Over 300 Romani attended the funeral of well known spiritualist Lena Mitchell in 1959. They danced alongside the hearse and then showered her coffin with gold coins in a traditional token of respect for the dead. However, there’s doubt that this cross is the final resting place of Lena since she was buried with so many valuables! Legend has it that her actual grave is elsewhere and unmarked in order to keep it safe from grave robbers.
Today you’ll find that people often stop by the marked grave to leave money, beer, handcrafted items, flowers and even small bottles of mystery liquids, and they’ll ask Lena to grant them a wish in return.
Harshaw Chapel Cemetery in Murphy, North Carolina.
Did you know that there’s a theory that Abraham Lincoln was born in North Carolina to a different set of parents? It’s been circulating in the Appalachian region of the state since the end of the Civil War and was outlined in a book called ‘The Tarheel Lincoln.’ It has been debunked by historians and even ol’ Abe himself but the rumor took root in the mountain soil and refuses to die out!
So who is this mysterious OG family?
Supposedly Abe was born to Nancy Hanks (his mother for sure) and a married mountaineer named Abram Enloe. Enloe sent Nancy off with the baby to live elsewhere and the person who was driving the wagon that carried them away was none other than Thomas Lincoln. Eventually Nancy and Thomas married, and little Abe was adopted by his stepfather never knowing who his real father was.
More fuel on the gossip fire? Descendants of Enloe look very similar to Honest Abe – tall, angular and long limbed.
Fact or fiction, it’s a whale of a tale and worth a visit to the historic chapel to see the grave of the man who might’ve fathered one the most well known Presidents who ever Presidented.
A piece of a monument has fallen victim to either time, the elements or vandalism. Sadly, many cemeteries have seen damage from all three. Especially sections that housed paupers or minority communities since those plots were usually placed in the least desirable areas of the cemetery such as floodplains.
This is also a caution that care should be taken when visiting cemeteries. Fragile stones can topple onto unsuspecting exploreres!
Visit my Guide to Cemetery Etiquette to learn more about how to explore any cemeteries in the safest and most respectful ways possible while still enjoying these public spaces!
Tomb of Astronaut Ronald McNair in Lake City, South Carolina.
Ronald was one of the seven astronauts who lost their lives on the ill fated Challenger Shuttle. But he’s known for so much more than that…
Ronald was a karate champion, had a MIT PhD in physics, was the 2nd African American to travel to space and founded educational scholarships for students with economic hardships. He was also a virtuoso saxophonist and created numerous experimental musical stylings in space for Jean-Michel Jarre. Jarre honored him with ‘Ron’s Piece’ which is the song playing here.
In the 90s, Ronald’s ashes were moved from his family cemetery to a tomb that is prominently displayed on the property of the local library that initially denied him. “In the summer of 1959, McNair refused to leave the segregated Lake City Public Library without being allowed to check out his books. After the police and his mother were called, McNair was allowed to borrow books from the library; the building that housed the library at the time is now named after him.” (Quote from interview with Ronald’s brother via NPR.)
Ronald’s tomb sits on an elevated cement pedestal with an eternal flame and a continuously running fountain that makes a very unique echo-ing sound. There’s also a commemorative plaque, his footprints encased in cement, a life-size bronze statue, and a large stone wall that is covered with quotes from Ron as well as dates of his accomplishments and a rendering of the Challenger Shuttle.
I was in 5th grade when I watched the Challenger Shuttle explode on live tv and I have crystal clear memories of that day. It was heartbreaking.
Fondly referred to by locals and writers as ‘The Angel’, this sculpture stands guard over the graves of two young men – Frank Paige (1859-1893) and Camden Mason Sheffield (1869-1897). While their relationship and connection is not known to us, there’s an interesting story tied to the burial of Mr Sheffield. It appears that his wife had his body moved from the family cemetery in Kingsland to the cemetery here in St Marys where he was buried next to Mr Paige. Another mystery is that the whole operation was done under the cover of dark and without the larger family’s permission or knowledge! Sheffield’s father had no idea the body was gone until days later. The whole thing is quite dramatic…
But The Angel stays steadfast with her arm raised to the heavens and her feet firmly planted in stone. If she knows the secrets of this particular plot then she’s not telling a soul!
Oak Grove Cemetery in St. Marys, Ga.
Christ Church Cemetery on Saint Simons Island, Ga.
Visit the blog to read about the history of this particular cemetery. It’s extra special to me since I spent many years on East Beach with my Grandparents…
Oak Grove Cemetery in Brunswick, Ga.
Are these not the saddest eyes ever? She seems so forlorn among the iron fencing and moss and dappled light…
Rest Haven Cemetery in Monroe, Ga.
A handcrafted gravestone using a distinctive yellow brick motif.
While I adore the heavily adorned and symbolic Victorian Era monuments, I equally adore handmade vernacular pieces such as these.
The Ugly Angel. Belle Hightower died in 1932 and her grave at Evergreen Cemetery in Jacksonville, Florida was adorned with a unique angel headstone. Supposedly a spectre/spirit has been seen nearby on occasion!
Much more of the story on Instagram.
This broken piece, etched with a mysterious and haunting (haunted?) face, is propped against an unrelated gravestone in Atlanta’s South-View Cemetery.
South-View was founded in 1886 by formerly enslaved African-Americans and has many notable graves from those involved in the Civil Rights Movement including MLK Jr. (before his body was moved to the National Historic Park) and John Lewis.
An eternal handshake in front of the Holy Gates. Madison, Ga.
This monolith – tall, upright stone – is adorned with a simple but powerful image.
Clasped hands symbolise unity, usually a married couple, and oak leaves allude to wisdom. And of course the pearly gates are the pearly gates and you can see that they are slightly open which means that the individual(s) are joyfully welcomed.
An angel carries a child to his new heavenly home.
The stone is over 100 years old but the story is one that is as old as time. Children’s graves are often marked with historically innocent-themed imagery such as angels, the buds of flowers yet to bloom or sleeping lambs.
Madison, Ga.
Thomasville is really giving ya the finger! While angel above has much more overall detail (the bunching of their blouse and the ringlets in their hair, gosh) there is also beauty in simplicity of this piece.
“When it is dark enough, you can see the stars.” Emerson
This stone stands as a gentle reminder that many of those grieving loss believe that their departed have gone on to a better place.
Lean into the light. Rich with cemetery symbolism! The arm in the sling is rather unusual but from what I can gather it’s a nod to a familial mourning style specific to this person’s profession.
One of the most photographed monuments in Oakland Cemetery and rightly so! It was completed in 1874 for mother and daughter, Mollie and Mary Lizzie Neal, and it is so beautifully ornate. It’s a neoclassical design and it is full of Victorian symbolism. And the figures are ‘life sized’ so you can imagine how much space it trulys holds amongst the greenery.
Floriography was popular during the Victorian Era (1837-1901) when individuals used the secret meanings of various blooms to express their emotions. This practice went beyond the parlor and made its way into funerary art.
The stone bouquet has daisies for purity, calla lilies for resurrection and roses for innocence/love.
You can read more about cemetery symbolism here.
In South Georgia you’ll find the dwindling practice of white sand cemeteries. Just what the name alludes to, these places have bright white sand brought in and then spread about and swept clean of debris.
Imagine a full moon rising and casting light on this cemetery. I’ve been there and it glows!
Homerville, Ga.
“Lost Love” Corinne Lawton is one of the most famous graves at Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah, Ga. The popular tale of her demise by intentional drowning due to a lost loves is full of woe…and baloney. Corinne died from a brief but severe illness. The truth never got in the way of a good (sad) story though so the lovelorn Lawton legacy still continues to this day…
“Simply To Thy Cross I Cling”
Taken from the hymn Rock of Ages and a common saying etched into gravestones.
Other popular sayings are Not Dead But Sleepeth and Budded On Earth To Bloom In Heaven. And of course there’s always the I Told You I Was Sick but nothing beats Died And Gone To Hell.
A receiving vault was used to house the dead until they could be buried. Maybe the ground was too cold and hard to dig in winter but they were also used during pandemics and if the deceased needed to be stored until family could arrive.
They were most often built into hills in order to keep them cool and shady as possible.
Recommended Reads
There are SO MANY wonderful books and videos out there featuring all of the subjects I’ve touched on with my exhibita. I do have a posts of favorite reads here. Oh, and Goodreads.
Local organizations
Friends of Brooklyn Cemetery – Athens, Ga organization dedicated to the renewal of the Bethlehem/Brooklyn cemetery including research and restoration.
Athens Death Project – Focus on the historic Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery as well as the historic Black / African-American communities in Athens and how racial inequality affects the death, dying and burial process.
Historic Athens – A proactive force in developing community-wide understanding of the value of historic buildings, neighborhoods and heritage.
Athens Welcome Center – Provide tours (Black History, Pride Month, Music & more) and tons of local information via brochures (including mine) and resources. Seasonally they’ll have a tour on funerary practices.
Athens Cemeteries & more!
I created a brochure with some maps to local and regional cemeteries as well as another favorite interest of mine which is roadside attractions & oddities! The South really does weird well, doesn’t it?
Thank you!
Thanks again for stopping by and I hope you enjoyed learning a bit about the world of cemetery tourism. Please feel free to email me via southerncemeteryseries@gmail.com if you have any questions or would like to collaborate!
